Tag Archives: one spirit

In Ephesisans 4, there is a list recording the seven-fold unity of the spirit.

3 Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. 4 There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called; 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism; 6 one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all. (NIV2011)

It is interesting that these verses start out with ‘one body’. I guess when you look around at all the denominations, non-denominations, groups and sects, it is readily seen that man just doesn’t take God at His Word! Division is everywhere. It can even be seen in groups that seem to believe the same exact thing, but because of one problem or another, division occurs especially in practical application. This doesn’t happen accidently. The problem starts with man and what he chooses. Man-made religion can not improve on God’s provisions. Man builds organizational systems, methodologies, and traditions in the name of God which have no basis in what God says about himself in His Word. God designed the set-up here with a provision of free-will choice. It is in the lack of humility to God that man makes the wrong choice.

The body of Christ is made up of members who all have the spirit of God in Christ within. The unity in this body is based on spirit and truth as true unity cannot exist on anything else.

I Corinthians 12:12-13 For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ. For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.

There is one spirit. Holy spirit is God’s gift to us and he provided it through the work of His son whom God made Lord. God is spirit and that is what he gives us to have oneness with Him.

It is a great treasure to be respected in each of us individually and then collectively.

There is another spiritual force that affects man and is in the world operating from a different motivation than the love of God. This force thrives and feeds on fear. It affects man to the point that he may choose to adjust godly wisdom to suit his own fear. It is a force that deceptively draws men and women away from believing God and causes them to resort to human reasonings instead of the Word and sadly relinquishing the availability of the power of God. This force causes men to be become blinded by the world and at dissonance with true spiritual matters. This is what causes divisions.

We don’t make the unity, it already has been established in God’s word. We are supposed to keep it in the forefront of our own hearts and then we have unity with others who do the same.

1 John 1:5-7 This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth: But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.

When Jesus was alive he said “I and my Father are one” and then later prayed in John 17: 20-21;

Neither pray I for these [apostles] alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word; That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me.

Paul later taught in regards to the unity of the spirit of God:

Ephesians 3:4-6There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; One Lord, one faith, one baptism, One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.

In the first century, life was physically very different from the life we know today. Yet the major happening on the day of Pentecost right after the ascension of Jesus Christ brought the unity of the spirit of God into the lives of willing people. Peter was the first to speak about what had happened. He did not have the whole picture yet but what God showed him he shared. The people had gathered from all across the known world at that time to celebrate one of three yearly feasts. Jerusalem had a huge population at this time of the year. Many of the people who responded to Peter’s magnificent sermon drastically changed their lives.

Acts 2:41-47 Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls. And they continued stedfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers. And fear [respect] came upon every soul: and many wonders and signs were done by the apostles. And all that believed were together, and had all things common; And sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all men, as every man had need. And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart, Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.

Our culture is different today, but the unity of the spirit is the same. We don’t travel to the temple in Jerusalem to the feasts. We now have a written record of the apostle’s doctrine. We have the seven church epistles by Paul explaining the gift of holy spirit and what we are to think and do about it. We too can praise God and share in God’s grace in one with the thinking of the first century church!

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Lowliness, humility and meekness mean rising up to God’s vision of ourselves rather than bringing God down to our level.

Through the years I have been involved in several groups and have taken many classes in biblical studies. I enjoy looking at God's word as shared by others. God has a way of connecting us and providing the fellowship we need at just the right time. We can have wonderful, rich connections on a daily basis. Ultimately, however, we each need to take responsibility to get to know God and how much He loves us. Since having started to slowly read and study the Old Testament, I have been amazed by the simplicity of truth and the envelope of love and grace throughout the whole bible. God's son, Jesus Christ is alive today and building his church. The real church is not a building made of bricks and mortar. Instead it is made up of people who believe in God and what God has given us in his son . The Word of God is a rich and powerful because of the gift of holy spirit that inspired its writers and inspires today those who read it.
I started this trek several years ago and presently I am in the books of Samuel. Often, I jump back into the New Testament in my writings because it all relates.

Interesting Books

J Dan Gill - The One- In Defence of God
Wayne Jacobsen - Finding Church- what if there is something more?
I like to read books and I have found the above books to be a blessing. I like to read what others have written and allow God to work in my own heart where I might disagree.